Zagreb to Dubrovnik: Parties & Plitvice Lakes (Self-Launched)

Land at ZAG and take the Croatia Airlines Pleso Prijevoz shuttle bus to the main bus station (~£8, 30–40 mins, runs roughly hourly). Check into a hostel around Tkalčićeva or the lower town. Late afternoon, do your own orientation loop on foot: Ban Jelačić Square, the Dolac market, the Stone Gate, St Mark's Church with its tiled roof, and the funicular up to Gradec. Grab a cheap dinner of ćevapi or štrukli, then hit Tkalčićeva street's bars — Zagreb's beer halls are cheap by European standards and it's easy to meet people in hostel common rooms before heading out.

🚌Airport shuttle bus ~£8; everything central is walkable

🛏Hostel in Zagreb old town, 4–6 bed dorm (~£16)

• →Self-guided old town walk (Ban Jelačić, Dolac market, Stone Gate, St Mark's Church)
• →Zagreb funicular (~£0.60)
• →Museum of Broken Relationships (~£3.50, optional)
• →Evening drinks on Tkalčićeva street

Take an early Croatia Bus/FlixBus from Zagreb's Autobusni Kolodvor to Plitvice (Entrance 1), roughly 2h15 and about £12–15 each way. Book your park ticket online in advance in high season — a one-day ticket is around £32 and includes the boat and shuttle train inside the park. Walk the Lower Lakes circuit first (Veliki Slap, the big waterfall), then boat across Kozjak lake and continue the Upper Lakes boardwalk loop — allow 5–6 hours total. Sleep in a guesthouse or hostel in Mukinje or Rastoke village nearby; Rastoke's watermills are a nice extra if you have evening light.

🚌Croatia Bus Zagreb–Plitvice ~£13; park trails on foot

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Mukinje or Rastoke (~£20)

• →Plitvice Lakes full-day ticket with boat and shuttle (~£32)
• →Lower Lakes and Veliki Slap waterfall loop
• →Upper Lakes boardwalk hike
• →Rastoke watermill village walk (free)

Morning bus from Plitvice down to Split (about 3.5–4 hours, roughly £15–18). Dump your bags at a hostel inside or just outside Diocletian's Palace. In the late afternoon do a free-tip walking tour of the old town (guides gather at the Peristyle or Pjaca) or just wander the palace cellars, Riva waterfront and Marmontova. Tonight is the big night out: start on the Riva, move to Bačvice beach bars, and finish at one of the clubs around the palace if you have the energy.

🚌Plitvice–Split bus ~£16; town on foot

🛏Hostel in Split old town area, dorm (~£20)

• →Free-tip walking tour of Diocletian's Palace and old town (tip ~£5)
• →Riva waterfront and palace cellars wander
• →Bačvice beach sunset
• →Night out on the Riva

Do the palace properly in the morning — either the Cathedral of St Domnius and its bell tower (£6–9) or a GetYourGuide small-group palace tour (from ~£18) if you want the history explained. Afternoon options: hike up Marjan hill for the city view (free, 40 mins up), swim at Bačvice, take local bus 37 to Trogir's walled old town (~£2.50 each way), or bus to Solin's Roman ruins (Salona, ~£2). Cheap seafood or gregada dinner in the lanes behind the Riva.

🚌Local bus to Trogir or Solin ~£5 return

🛏Hostel in Split old town area, dorm (~£20)

• →Diocletian's Palace guided tour or cathedral and bell tower (~£8)
• →Marjan hill viewpoint hike (free)
• →Optional Trogir excursion (~£2.50 bus)
• →Bačvice beach swim

Catch the morning Jadrolinija or Krilo catamaran from Split to Hvar town (about 1–1h15, roughly £10–12 each way; book online the day before). Climb to the Španjola fortress (€10) for the view over the Pakleni Islands, wander the old town and St Stephen's Square, then either swim at Pokonji Dol or take a water taxi/boat from Hvar harbour around the Pakleni Islands (~£10–20, or a half-day boat tour from ~£30). Take the late afternoon or early evening catamaran back to Split and eat by the fish market.

🚌Split–Hvar catamaran return ~£22; water taxi ~£12

🛏Hostel in Split old town area, dorm (~£20)

• →Hvar town and Španjola fortress (~£9)
• →Pakleni Islands boat trip or water taxi (~£25)
• →Swim stop at Pokonji Dol beach

Take the morning Croatia Bus/Arriva coach Split–Dubrovnik (about 4.5–5 hours, roughly £18–22; the route cuts briefly through Bosnia via Neum, so carry your passport). Arrive, check into a hostel in or just outside the walls (Old Town hostels are pricier; Gruž and Lapad are cheaper). Late afternoon: walk Stradun, the city walls if you still have light (€40, better value early morning on a different day if you extend), and Buža cliff bar for sunset. Evening option: get a group together from the hostel for a night out in the old town's narrow lanes.

🚌Split–Dubrovnik coach ~£20

🛏Hostel in Dubrovnik (Gruž/Lapad or Old Town), dorm (~£24)

• →Stradun and old town wander (free)
• →Buža cliff bar sunset
• →Evening out in the old town

Get on the city walls at opening time (€40) to beat the crowds and the heat — about 2 hours round the full loop. Alternative or addition: guided sea kayaking around the walls and Lokrum (~£36), the Srđ cable car (~£16), or the ferry to Lopud island for a sandy beach (£4 return from Gruž). Depart from Dubrovnik airport (Atlas shuttle bus ~£8) or catch a catamaran onward to Hvar, Korčula or Bari if you're continuing.

🚌Airport shuttle ~£8 or Lopud ferry £4 return

🛏None — departure day (add a hostel night ~£24 if you're staying on)

• →Dubrovnik city walls walk (~£34)
• →Sea kayaking around the walls (~£36) or Srđ cable car (~£16)
• →Optional Lopud island beach trip (£4 ferry)